The Development Set is a Medium publication of essays on international development, aid, and tech's impact on poorer countries, including first-person pieces.
HN links it occasionally on development and education abroad; the given comments offer little opinion on the publication itself.
I totally agree with you. I should have been more clear.
In my opinion, some people want to work. They want to contribute to society and receive validation in the form of a variable salary that can go up or down according to their contribution. Others don't. Both are fine.
Calling people "useless" is not a great selling point for basic income. It strikes a nerve with some people [1], and while I think the post I just cited went over the top, I see what they're getting at.
Useless is subjective. I wouldn't call monks or anyone else useless. Yet, this is one of Altman's reasons for supporting basic income [2]. I don't think he intended his statement to be interpreted that way. It is what it is.
[1] https://medium.com/the-development-set/silicon-valley-s-unchecked-arrogance-d86cbb8db52#.np2agx5by
[2] http://www.techinsider.io/sam-altman-praises-basic-income-on-freakonomics-podcast-2016-4
Another view of foreign students:
Study Abroad as a Path to Equity and Justice
https://medium.com/the-development-set/study-abroad-as-a-path-to-equity-and-justice-f5b902e8f13